Five European allies, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, have jointly accused Russia of being responsible for the death of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny. They assert that he was poisoned with epibatidine, a neurotoxin derived from the skin of poison frogs found in South America, while he was incarcerated in a penal colony in the Arctic two years ago. Their statement was based on analyses of Navalny's body that purportedly confirmed the existence of this neurotoxin, which they claim is not naturally found in Russia.

In response to these accusations, the Russian government has dismissed the claims as propaganda. The Kremlin argues that the allegations are unfounded and labeled them as "nonsense". Russian officials have consistently refuted any responsibility related to Navalny’s situation, framing the narrative around a conspiracy led by Western nations aiming to undermine Russia’s image on the global stage.

The implications of this ongoing dispute are significant, potentially straining diplomatic relations between Russia and the European countries involved. The accusation adds to the increasing tensions surrounding Navalny's imprisonment and allegations of human rights abuses in Russia, reflecting broader issues of accountability and governance within the international community's engagements with Russia.